Garry D. Gorton

Garry D. Gorton, 86, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, January 21, 2019, at Morningstar Care Homes of Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, January 25, 2019, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, January 26, 2019, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Private family interment Highland Cemetery in Ottawa with military honors by the United States Air Force. Garry was born July 17, 1932 at Ottawa, Kansas. He was the son of Raymond Glenn and Hazel Edith (Burnett) Gorton. He was a lifelong Ottawa resident. He graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1950. Garry was united in marriage to LaWanda Enyart November 7, 1953 at Ottawa. She survives of their home. Garry worked after high school for Weidner Mobil Service in Ottawa until joining the United States Air Force in 1952 and served until October 28, 1956 where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He then served in the Reserves until October 15, 1959. Garry worked a few years in the mid-1950s at Sunflower Ammunition Plant and in the late 1950s as a painter for Bill Whitacre. In 1960, he worked twenty-one years as a paint contractor with Swede Mealman and then was a self-employed painter from 1981 through 1983. Garry then worked several years in maintenance at Franklin Savings Bank and then for Peoples National Bank, until retiring in 2002. Garry was a fifty-seven-year member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder and board member; served many years on the Water Board Rural District #2; was a Boy Scout leader many years for Troop 74, and a member of the Power of the Past. He loved picture drawing, painting, restoring tractors and he chased a few cows. Garry enjoyed fishing every Friday evening with Bob Hull, his good friend. Garry was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Gorton; mother, Hazel Gorton-Porter and stepdad, Kenneth Porter; brother, Don Gorton; and great grandson, Skyler Gorton. He is survived by his sons, Chris Gorton and wife Jane of Emporia, Brent Gorton and wife Christy of Princeton, Craig Gorton of Ottawa and Brian Gorton and wife Tammy of Williamsburg; brothers, Rex Porter and wife Dolly of Los Angeles, California, Jack Porter and wife Nedra of Ottawa and Steven Porter and wife Janet of Leawood; sisters, Patty Wait of Muskogee, Oklahoma and Shirley Hansen of Shawnee, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Carol Gorton of Ottawa; ten grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. The family suggest memorial contributions to Westminster Presbyterian Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Garry’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com.